17 Facts About William Spier

William Hannan Spier was an American writer, producer, and director for television and radio.

William Spier is best known for his radio work, notably Suspense and The Adventures of Sam Spade.

William Hannan Spier was born in New York City to a Jewish father and a Presbyterian mother.

At age 19, Spier was hired at Musical America magazine, which was edited by Deems Taylor.

William Spier eventually became the chief critic for the magazine.

In 1929, William Spier was hired at the advertising agency Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn.

In 1940, William Spier became chief of the writers' department and director of program development at the Columbia Broadcasting Company.

In 1941, William Spier relocated to Los Angeles, which gave him access to a larger and better known talent pool.

In 1946, William Spier directed, produced and sometimes wrote the radio series The Adventures of Sam Spade, based upon the detective created by Dashiell Hammett.

William Spier produced two anthology series: The Clock and The James and Pamela Mason Show.

In 1952, William Spier introduced TV's first 90-minute show, Omnibus, for CBS.

In 1956, William Spier produced three episodes of Man Against Crime.

In 1954, William Spier co-directed, with Roy Kellino, the film Lady Possessed, starring James Mason and Havoc, with a screenplay written by Mason and his wife, Pamela Mason, based upon her novel Del Palma.

William Spier was married to Mary Scanlan from 1929 to 1939 and had three children with her: Peter, Greta, and Margaret.

Thompson and William Spier became godparents to Liza Minnelli, due to their personal and professional relationships with her parents, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli.

Thompson and William Spier divorced in 1947, and Havoc and he married in 1948.

William Spier died, aged 66, at the home he shared with Havoc in Weston, Connecticut.